Bet Tzedek Names Manatt's Cristin Zeisler Pro Bono Attorney of the Year

August 11, 2011 – Cristin Zeisler, partner and Director of Pro Bono Services at Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, was named Pro Bono Attorney of the Year for 2011 by Bet Tzedek Legal Services.  Zeisler was recognized for her contributions as one of the architects of the groundbreaking Holocaust Survivors Justice Network and to Bet Tzedek’s pro bono efforts generally.  The award was presented at Bet Tzedek’s annual “Evening of Recognition” volunteer appreciation event on July 25, 2011, at Sinai Temple in Los Angeles.

“I am truly humbled by this honor,” Zeisler said of the award.  “Being a part of this extraordinary effort has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career, and it would not have been possible without the support of my colleagues at Manatt.  I accept the award on behalf of the firm, the inspiring survivors, dedicated volunteers, and our visionary partners at Bet Tzedek.”

The Justice Network launched in 2008 as the single largest coordinated pro bono legal effort in U.S. history, providing free legal services to Holocaust survivors seeking German “Ghetto Work” reparations.  Legal assistance was essential, as the German applications and declarations were complex.  In fact, for survivors without legal representation, a high percentage of their applications were denied.

More than 100 law firms and corporate legal departments delivered legal services to thousands of survivors through the network’s unique pro bono legal clinic model.  At the height of the project, clinics operated in 30 cities across the nation.

“The network was an extremely ambitious undertaking.  The coordination of thousands of staff and volunteers on this scale was unprecedented, but absolutely necessary to reach all of the Holocaust survivors affected,” Zeisler said.  “The success of the network cannot be measured only by the numbers.  It has to be seen on a human level, with these reparations having a profound impact both financially and emotionally for these extraordinary men and women.”

Last year, Zeisler and Manatt helped launch, manage, and provide front-line assistance to survivors in a second phase of the network - HSJN 2.0 - following rulings in German federal court providing survivors previously denied pensions reconsideration. This laid the groundwork for a dramatic increase in funds available to survivors and made the HSJN’s assistance all the more critical.

The needs addressed by the Justice Network are urgent in light of the age of Holocaust survivors and the dire financial situation of many, with upwards of 25 percent of the survivors in the United States living below the poverty line.

“Cristin exemplifies Manatt’s deep commitment to pro bono leadership and to making a positive difference in our communities,” said Manatt Chief Executive Officer and Managing Partner William T. Quicksilver.  “We thank Bet Tzedek for the opportunity to be a part of such an important effort and congratulate Cristin on this much deserved honor.”

More information on the Holocaust Survivors Justice Network is available at www.holocaustsurvivorsprobono.org.

About Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP
Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, is one of the nation's leading law firms, with offices strategically located in California (Los Angeles, Orange County, Palo Alto, San Francisco and Sacramento), New York (New York City and Albany) and Washington, D.C.  The firm represents a sophisticated client base – including Fortune 500, middle-market and emerging companies – across a range of practice areas and industry sectors.  For more information, visit www.manatt.com.